Executive Game notched his seventh straight win as Tioga Downs played host to eight Reynolds Memorial Stakes for freshman pacers and trotters on Friday, Sept. 22.
Driven by Wally Hennessey, Executive Game held on to win the $38,850 first division for trotting colts and geldings.
Super Duper Cooper (Jason Bartlett) was first to the quarter in :28. Executive Game went first-up and went on by with a lap to go. He was first to the half in :58.1. Favourite Southwind Metric (Ake Svanstedt) went first-over going down the backstretch while Executive Game led to three-quarters in 1:27. As they reached the stretch, Super Duper Cooper slid through the inside making it three across the track. Executive Game dug in and held on to win in a lifetime-best in 1:55.4. Super Duper Cooper finished second and Southwind Metric had to settle for third.
Trained by Jim Campbell, Executive Game has won seven of his eight career starts. The homebred Bar Hopping-Broadway Jo Ell gelding is owned Runthetable Stables. He paid $ 6 to win.
Also driven by Hennessey, Hankins Hanover prevailed in the $39,350 second division for trotting colts and geldings in 1:56. After a break by Sir Pinocchio (Jason Bartlett), French Kronos (Mattias Melander) inherited the runner-up role and Fringed (Dan Daley) got third.
Hankins Hanover (Walner-Hall Of A Dream) is trained by Nifty Norman for owners Pinske Stables and David Hoese. The win was his third in eight career starts.
Pressure Cooker and driver Jason Bartlett won the $35,000 first division for pacing fillies in 1:53.2 by a half-length over Costa Diva (Wally Hennessey). Neridas Wish (Marcus Miller) finished third.
Now three-for-seven to start her career, Pressure Cooker (Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin) is trained by Linda Toscano for owners Let It Ride Stables, Bottom Line Racing and Mac Nichol.
Bartlett also took the $35,500 second division for pacing fillies with Blue Point in a lifetime best of 1:53.4. City Of Stars (Tyler Miller) finished 1-3/4 lengths behind in second and Shine On Susan (Jordan Stratton) was third.
Ed Hart trains Blue Point (Huntsville-Amber Blue Chip), a two-time winner from eight starts, for Pollack Racing.
Upallnight Hanover was a 13-1 upset winner in the $38,650 first division for trotting fillies, scoring in a lifetime-best 1:57 by nearly four lengths with Sarah Svanstedt in the bike. Diamonte Hanover (Wally Hennessey) was second best and HL Soho (Harry Landy) was third.
Trained by Ake Svanstedt, Upallnight Hanover (Bar Hopping-Upfront Obs Janet) earned her second win five outings for Journey Horses Inc.
Hennessey teamed up with Campbell to win another division of the Reynolds with trotting filly Walcango taking her $39,500 split in 1:57.1 by one length. Tequini Hanover (Jordan Stratton) was second and Southwind Banshee (Ake Svanstedt) finished third.
Walcango (Walner-Tamgo Donato) is a Fashion Farms homebred, who recorded her second win in seven starts.
Hennessey was back in the winner's circle with Magnifico Hanover, who won the $38,750 first division for pacing colts and geldings in a lifetime-best 1:52.3. Captain Skippy (Ake Svanstedt) finished 2-3/4 lengths behind in second and Waterloo (Tyler Miller) was third best.
Magnifico Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Mesmerize Blue Chip) is owned and trained by Cote Keim. The gelding is now two-for-three to start his career.
Maxim Hanover broke his maiden in the $38,750 second division for pacing colts and geldings, drawing off by five lengths in 1:53 with Jordan Stratton aboard. Captain Marvel (Jason Bartlett) was second and Divine Cosmo (Brett Beckwith) finished third.
Sent postward as the favourite, Maxim Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Mean Leen) was a winner in his seventh career start for trainer Robert Cleary and owner Royal Wire Products.
Live harness racing will wrap up at Tioga Downs for the season on Saturday, Sept. 23 with a 13-race card. Post time is 5:15 p.m. Fireworks will follow live racing.
(With files from Tioga Downs)